Chapter 9

Not gonna question the bow. Nope. Not the time. Hell I have a weird samurai scimitar key thing in my hand right now. So I'm not gonna question the shimmering blue bow that fires volleys of magical gold light arrows. Nope. Not even gonna wonder. We have more pressing issues anyway. Like the giant shadow man with the dreadlocks and the heart shaped hole in his chest. Yeah. Should probably deal with that first.

The Darkside raises it's fist and slams it into the ground. Mary and I leap back to avoid the shockblast. Now, when I say 'slams it into the ground', I literally mean 'he slams it INTO the ground. A pool of darkness forms around where his arm disappears into the soil. Small little heartless with big yellow eyes, on a round head, from which is sprouting antennae. More Shadows. I hate these little guys. I swing my keyblade at it, but it just melts into the dirt. Three more jump at me. Two receive arrows in their temples. I swing my keyblade at the remaining Shadow, and it dissolves into nothing in one hit.

''Would you stop fucking around and hit the big one?''

''Oh yeah. That makes sense, Mary. You have a magical bow that you can seem to aim with perfect accuracy and fire at lightning speed, and I should RUN UP to the BIG. SCARY. MONSTER. And hit it with my sword thing. PERFECT SENSE.''

''Oh,'' She looks embarrassed. ''My mistake.''

Her face becomes serious again. ''Just keep them off me, while I shoot the damned thing then.'' I nod and turn to face the growing army of Shadows. Theres to many of them to just start whacking away, but maybe if I used another Strike Raid... I bring my arm back. My arm tenses as I prepare to throw. I hurl the Keyblade forward as fast as I can, but it doesn't feel right. My Keyblade spins towards the nearest Shadow, and strikes it...hilt...first. It bounces off its head and lands in the ground on the far side of the swarm.

''If I wasn't busy saving our asses, I'd laugh at you.'' Oh. Great. She noticed. I look up at the Darkside, and honestly, I have to stifle a laugh. It looks like a black porcupine with golden quills. Despite the ridiculous amount of projectiles lodged in its face, it doesn't appear to be affected. I glance back to the swarm, they haven't moved much closer, but slowly and surely they were crawling towards me. How am I supposed to get my Keyblade back? Idiot. USE MAGIC. Wait, I can do that?

I feel a warm sensation run down my arm. Point at the Shadows. I do as he says. He? Why is it a he? I don't know, but I should save my questions till later. My hand glows red. Its like its on- ''FIRE!'' A ball of flame erupts from my palm and streaks towards the writhing mass of darkness. It passes through one before exploding in the center of them. Shadows fly in every direction as they dissolve in the air. I stare in shock at the spot there used to be a small battalion of darkness bugs trying to kill me. I hold up my hand as small flickers of flame fly across my appendage.

Ugh. Large words. Is that your doing? No response. Suddenly a wave of wooziness washes over me. I put out my hand to steady myself. Breathe. Just Breathe. My knees stop shaking and my vision returns to normal. I see my Keyblade sticking from the ground. I run to it and yank it from its resting place. I still need to deal with the Darkside. Its kneeling on the ground and shooting purple orbs from its chest. Mary is too busy rolling out of the way to provide much cover fire. I've got to find a way to attack its head again.

Suddenly a bad idea forms in my head, but it is an idea nonetheless. I run towards it and jump on its knee. I can't quite jump to its arm from here so I jump into the hole in its chest. Immediately I was enveloped in darkness. I could still see out where I came in, but instead of seeing behind the monster, it's an endless dark abyss. Screeching fills my ears. It's high pitched and endless. I stumble my way towards the exit. I reach the edge and fall from my perch in the Darkside's heart, but before I hit the ground something catches me.

Now, I wish someone had come to my aid, but really I just fell into the creatures arms. Its bent over again, kneeling on the ground, preparing for another volley of orbs. It's head is bowed in concentration. Perfect. I pick myself up and sprint to the creatures shoulder. I swing my keyblade at the base of its skull. That is, if it even has a skull. The creature jerks forward and reaches toward me. I try to climb its head but it grabs me. It raises me up, but an arrow, much bigger than the others, spears its wrist. The hand releases me and I fall towards the darkside again. I bring my Keyblade down and drive it home, using my weight to wedge it deep into its head.

The Darkside wobbles before falling over. Over the edge that is. I'm pulled with the Darkside off the little floating island and towards the void. My Keyblade vanishes. I scramble on the darkside trying to find purchase. An arrow pierces its back a few inches from my hands. I pick it up, and suddenly my momentum abruptly ends. I almost lose my grip on the arrow, which I now realize has a rope attached to it. So now instead of falling into the void, I'm dangling above it. Fantastic.

I begin to climb up the rope towards the island. I reach the top and roll over the edge. I stand only to collapse again. I lay there catching my breath. ''Well,'' a voice says from above me, "That was fun.'' I totally forgot she was even here. I wave her away feebly.

''Where'd you get that idea?''

''What? The grappling arrow?''

''Yes. Yes the grappling arrow.'' It really was a thing of magnificence. Probably saved my life.

''Umm...Mulan?'' Mulan. Really. My life was spared an unknown demise, thanks to a disney movie. If I wasn't so grateful, I'd probably be.. I don't know what I'd be, but I'd be something. I chuckle and sit up. She sits down next to me, and not like the kinda close but still a little away. No, I mean Right Next to me. I don't know why, but I'm getting kinda nervous. I clear my throat, and stare into the distance. She lays her head on my shoulder.

''What are you doing?'' I ask incredulously, why in the world would she be doing such-

''I'm tired.'' She mumbles sleepily. Oh. oh. OH. Ok. That makes much more sense. I mean, like that was ridiculous, thinking she'd be trying to make a move. I mean, not like I'd really object, but I doubt she'd be interested. Though I wonder what it'd be like to...Agh. Stop it.

You're face is heating up. It's true. I can feel my face reddening. Good thing she has her eyes closed and is not looking at me then. I hold out my hand, and my Keyblade shimmers into existence. I turn it this way and that admiring it's appearance. Mary stirs on my shoulder.

''So, what do you call it?'' Call it? Oh, I guess I should give it a name shouldn't I?

''Well, I haven't thought up a name yet.'' I can't think of one either. I'm trying I swear.

''Why don't you base it's name off of your first experience with it? Like I did.'' Her bow manifests in her grasp. ''I call my bow Light Bringer. It's named that because I first used it at sunrise. See? Easy stuff like that.''

I ponder her advice. Well, I have been fighting monsters and such since I got it. Some nobodies, but mostly a Darkside and dark black Shadows, in a sea of dark nothingness. Hmm... and then I've been fighting them with Mary here. And there was that moment where I wanted too...Nevermind that. ''Dark Desire.'' It just popped into my head. I like it though. It has a nice ring to it.

''Dark Desire?'' She looks around us. ''I understand the 'Dark' part,'' She looks at me with a smug grin on her face, ''But why ever is it 'Dark Desiiirrreee?''

''Umm.. well.. you see.. that is... umm...''

Let's not get into that right now.